Clothes washing machine



Aug. 25, 1964 5 McMlLLAN 3,145,553

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ea. Z

INVENTOR.

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ilan? INVENTOR.

llg- 25, 1954 s. l.. MCMILLAN CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1, 1963 d2 ffy.

United States Patent O This invention relates to clothes washing machines in particular, to a combined agitator and pump for effectively recirculating wash or rinse water for the removal of lint and the like.

The invention as disclosed herein is applied to a washing machine having an upstanding agitator of the oscillating type. As is the practice in the art, the agitator is secured to the upper end of a shaft which extends through a tubular center post of the agitator, it being understood that said shaft is protected from the water by tubular guard and shaft seal. The pumping mechanism comprises a frusto-conical outer casing having an annular top and bottom wall, and an imperforate side wall, and a rustoconical inner structure so arranged that upon assembly the completed pump casing is annular. The outer casing member has an axial wall which extends radially into close clearance with the wall of the inner structure, and the latter has an axial wall which extends radially into close clearance with the Wall of the outer casing. Check valves means are provided at the top and bottom annular wall of the outer casing, there being an inlet port and appropriate valve at each side of the first named axial wall at the bottom of the casing, and an outlet port and an appropriate valve at each side of said axial wall at the top of the casing. These valves, of course, act in opposition to each other; when an inlet valve is opened, an outlet valve is closed, etc.

Upon assembly of the outer and inner casing elements Within the agitator, the assembly is passed over the agitator shaft guard, and the inner casing is rendered relatively immobile thereby. The outer casing element is rotatable on the inner element, and is fixed to the agitator for oscillation therewith. Water intlow passages are provided in the agitator adjacent the pump inlet passages, and water passages are provided through which water can be ejected into the tub from ports about the top of the agitator. It is apparent that the respective radial walls divide the annular interior of the pump casing into tWo compartments, and that as the outer casing rotates inone irection, the approach of its wall relative to the other wall reduces the volume of one compartment while enlarging the other. Water is therefore ejected from the one while flowing into the other; and on the return oscillation the reverse occurs. Thus, there is a continuous movement into and out of the pump during a clothes washing or rinsing operation. By locating the water ejection passages sufficiently above the normal full load water line of the machine, a iilter pan or detergent dispenser may be arranged to intercept the water and return it to the clothes basket by way of drainage through a screen or other foraminated base construction of the pan.

I am aware that agitator powered water recirculation systems have previously been proposed. Castricone U.S. Patent 2,821,076 of January 28, 1958 and Altorfer U.S. Patent 2,909,051 of October 20, 1959, are typical examples. Insofar as I am aware, however no previous pumping system oifers a pumping mechanism which a mechanically unskilled person can dis-assemble for cleaning or other attention. Because of a mounting arrangement later explained, it makes no difference how the inner and outer casing members are re-assembled with respect to the relative location of the respective walls, for after a short period of operation the members Will automatically assurne their proper relationship.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a 3,145,553 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 clothes washing mechanism having Water recirculation means comprising pumping apparatus within the center post of an oscillating agitator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a clothes washing machine having a water recirculation system including water pumping apparatus which, in its entirety, is a part of the agitator, and may be removed therefrom, disassembled, and restored to operation, with simple tools by persons unskilled in mechanics.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in a clothes washing machine a recirculation pumpwhich automatically adjusts itself to proper operating conditions in the circumstance that it had been placed in service with initial mis-alignment of operating parts.

Other features and advantages'of the invention will best be understood by the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FiG. 1 is a side elevation of a clothes washing machine embodying the present invention, certain parts of the outer casing and other mechanism being broken away to disclose underlying structure;

FIG. 2 is a detail, partly in section, of a transmission mechanism for activating the agitator and spin tubs;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the agitator and pumping mechanism therein, taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is a plan section taken through the agitator and pump on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan section taken through the agitator and pump on lines 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the'external ing element; and

FIG. 7 is a plan section taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 3.

Referring iirst to FIG, l, the clothes washer illustrated therein is of the familiar vertical agitator spin basket type. An outer appearance casing 1 is provided with a bottom bulkhead 2, welded or otherwise secured within the casing to provide a water collection tub 3 and machinery compartment 4. Disposed within the latter compartment is a frame 5 mounted for gyratory movement about a pivot point (not shown) located in a transverse structural member at the base of the cabinet. Said frame carries a drive motor 6 disposed with its shaft projecting vertically downward. Said shaft has a drive sheave and at its end is attached to the rotor of a pump 7 which receives liquid from the tub 3 by way of a screened inlet 8 in the bulkhead 2, said inlet having attached thereto a hose 10 Which comprises the inlet hose to the pump. The discharge hose 11 from the pump is of the usual flexible rubber type which is adapted to hook over the side of a laundry tub (not shown) to discharge the spent washing and rinsing liquid thereinto. The motor 6 is o f the reversible split-phase induction type commonly in washing machine use; as is well understood in the art, when the motor operates in one direction, it operates the agitator for the washing and rinsing function, and when operated in the other direction, it rotates the clothes basket for centrifugal extraction of water from the basket and contents thereof. The pump 7 may be of any of the well known types in which, when the motor is operating in the spin direction, the pump removes the water from the tub 3, whereas when the motor is operated in the wash direction, it is less effective, or not effective, as a pumping mechanism.

The transmission 14 mounted within the frame 5 has a casing 15 about the lower portion of which a circular concentric skirt 16 provides a driven clutch element within which is a uni-directional clutch 17 well known in the art. The clutch is iixed to the sheave 18, from which the belt 20 connects with the motor sheave. When the motor operates in the spin direction, the clutch 17 engages the skirt 16 to rotate the housing 15 therewith.

pump cas- By means of a conventional slip clutch 21 of the coil spring type, the rotation of the sheave 1S in the wash direction transmits torque to the main pinion shaft 22; in this direction of rotation the clutch 17 is disengaged from the clutch member 16 so that drive torque is not transmitted to the housing 15, it being understood that any conventional braking or snubbing devices (not shown) may be used to restrain rotation or oscillation of the casing during the washing operation. During the spin operation, the cluttch 21 slips relative to the pinion shaft 22, whereupon no torque is transmitted thereto.

A sleeve 23 extending from the transmission housing 15 and coaxial with the clutch member 16 and pinion shaft 22 is secured to a fixture 24 on which is mounted the clothes receiving basket 25, whereupon when the transmission housing is rotated as aforesaid, basket 25 rotates therewith. A iiexible rubber boot 26 xed about the sleeve 23 and bulkhead 2 prevents passage of water into the machinery compartment while permitting gyratory movement. A coil spring 27 between the frame 5 and damping devices (not shown) on the underside of the bulkhead Z serves to damp excessive gyrations, all as well known in the art. Within the basket 25 and coaxial therewith is an agitator 28 from the relatively large diameter central post 30 of which extend a plurality of varies 31, said vanes being arranged as a spiral or screw about the post 3i), although this is not in any way a factor inlluencing the present invention. The agitator is secured to the upper end of the agitator shaft 32, journaled in the transmission casing as shown in FIG. 2; said agitator shaft passes axially through a sleeve 33 which seals it against the water within basket 25. Shaft 32 is connected by way of a sector gear 34 and a crank 35 (ragrnentarily shown in FlG. 2) to a gear cluster 36 which is in mesh with the drive pinion 37 fixed to the'end of the main pinion shaft 22; the agitator shaft has a pinion 38 in mesh with the sector gear 34. As is known in the art, rotation of pinion 37 and gear cluster 36 causes an oscillation of crank 35 and the sector gear 34 to which it is affixed; the sector gear in turn oscillates the shaft 32. In the present embodiment of the invention the shaft and its associated agitator oscillate through 212. Completing the general description of the washing machine, the basket 25 is generally truste-conical, and is imperforate except or the row of apertures di) through which water is ejected into the tub 3 during the centrifugal spin operation. A ring 41 of heavy material is carried at the top of the basket to contribute a stabilizing intluence during spin. A solenoid operated water valve assembly 42 has an inlet 43 arranged to be connected to the hot Water supply of the site of installation, and an inlet 44 arranged to be connected to the cold water supply, whereupon hot, cold or tepid water can be directed into the basket 25 by way of the valve outlet 45, as is well known. The top panel 46 of the casing l has an access lid 47 and a controls compartment 4S within which are located various control devices, including the time cycle controller 5t) which conducts the washing machine through an operational sequence. The level of water indicated at FWL in FIG. 1 is typical of a full till for washing a full load of clothes. For light loads the user may select a partial fill which would lower the water level about one third.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is seen that the sleeve 33 lits. snugly within a synthetic rubber grommet 52, the lower part of which is grooved to tightly receive the bottom wall of tub 25. The upper portion of the grommet has a plurality of teeth 53, as best shown in FIG. 7. A present embodiment provides 18 such teeth equally spaced apart; the radial projection (or whole depth) of the teeth is of the order of .15 inch. The outside diameter of the tooth circle is 2.39 inches. The face angle of the teeth is between 14 and 15 degrees. The signiiicance of these tooth dimensions will presently appear. At its upper end sleeve 33 has a seal 54 through which shaft 32 extends to terminate in a ixture 55 over which lits the upper hub portion 56 of the agitator 28, it being understood that the interior of the hub 56 and the exterior of the lixture 55 are arranged for a keying or similar interiitting relationship. The threaded end 57 of shaft 32 receives a female threaded cap 58 by means of which the securement of the agitator on shaft 32 is perfected; said cap 5S is vertically ribbed about its exterior to permit it to be tightened or loosened manually without the use of tools. A gasket 66 is interposed between the cap and agitator hub to accommodate any irregularities therebetween, and to seal the hub against escape ot air, thus enabling the interior of the hub to pocket air to a level below the top of the seal 54, and thus prevent water from submerging the seal. Immediately below this gasket the hub 56 is provided with a plurality of water outilow ports 61 spaced equi-distantly therearound; and at the base of the agitator there are provided groups of inflow ports 62 arranged in staggered upper and lower banks.

The recirculation pump 64 is disposed in the lower portion of the hollow agitator post 30 at an elevation therein in which it will be submerged even when the tub has the previously noted partial lill. The base of the pump is, of course, above the uppermost row of inlet ports 62.

The pump includues an exterior casing 65 of rnoldable plastic or other suitable material, and is of frusto-conical shape to lit snugly within the tubular agitator post 30, as shown in FIG. 3. The top wall 66 is annular, and has an upwardly extending center wall or rim 67. The annular bottom wall 68 may be of sheet metal, with a downwardly extending collar 70. Casing 65 and the bottom wall 68 have radially extending lugs 71, 72 coinciding with bosses 73 whereby the casing assembly may be secured to the agitator by suitable screws. The bottom wall is provided with arcuate valve ports 74, 75, with which cooperate the overlying ap valve 76; the top wall has arcuate valve ports 77, 78, with which cooperate the overlying iiap valve Sil. A guide plate 69 provides an annular channel which improves the flow of water into the inlet ports. Also, the casing 65 has a radial wall 81 integral therewith; said radial wall extends substantially the full radial width of the upper and lower walls, as suggested in FIG. 3. The radial wall 81 is tapped to accommodate screws for the securement of the respective valves. It will be apparent that the valves 76 and 80 are check valves; valve 76 permits water to flow into the casing through the ports 74 and '75, and valve 80 permits water to escape from the casing through the ports 77 and 78. The pump 64 further comprises an annular inner casing 82 having a shouldered upper wall S3 which forms a bearing surface for the rim 67 of outer casing 65. The inner casing S2 also has a shouldered lower Wall 84, which provides a bearing surface for the lower wall 70 of the outer casing. Inner casing 82 has a radial wall S5 integral therewith; said wall reaches radially' into relatively close proximity to the inner wall surface of the outer casing. The inner casing 32 is preferably of a relatively rigid material such as a butyl rubber of relatively high durometer. 1t is maintained in a substantially lixed position relative to the outer casing 65 by interengagement with the teeth of the grommet 52; to this end the inner casing 82 has the appropriate plurality of teeth 86.

It was earlier noted that the teeth 53 of grommet 52 have a whole depth of the orderof .15 inch, and that the outside diameter of the tooth circle is 2.39 inches. The teeth 86 have a whole depth of .08 inch, a base circle diameter of 2.51 inches, and a circle deining the top of the teeth of 2.35 inches diameter. Considering manufacturing tolerances and the stretching of grommet 52 when in place over the sleeves 23 and 33 these dimensions result in an eilective overlap of the respective teeth 53 and S6 of from about .023 to about .040 inch. The grommet 52 is of molded rubber having a durometer rating of the order of 51, whereas the pump member 82 has a durometer rating of the order of 93. Thus, the pump grommet 52 is much softer than the pump member, and the teeth of the grommet can ex and pass over the teeth of the pump member if necessary. A circumstance which would induce this would be, for example, if on assembly the rcspective casing parts 65 and 82 were mis-aligned so that the blade 85 of member 82 was substantially less than 180 removed from the blade 81 of member 65. In view of the fact that from a center point of its movement the agitator oscillates 106 in each direction, it would be apparent that mis-alignment of the inner and outer casing members might be such that the blade 85 would offer actual physical interference with the. movement of the agitator. However, any such physical contact of the respective blades would not result in damage thereto, for the rigid teeth of the member 82 could pass over the flexible teeth of the grommet 52. After only one or two oscillations of the agitator, the unbalance water pressure conditions within the pump casing would complete the adjustment of the interior casing relative to the exterior casing member 65, and the component parts of the pump will come to a position of satisfactory equilibrium.

It will be obvious that as the casing member 65 oscillates relative to the casing member 82, Water will be drawn into the chamber which is of increasing volume, and discharge from the chamber which is of decreasing volume. The discharge water from the respective ports 77 and 78 passes into the annular passage 90 defined by the surrounding wall of the agitator post 30, and a tubular sleeve 91, said sleeve being secured snug on the ange 67 and on the skirt 93 of the agitator post. Of course, the water discharging into the annular space 9i) escapes through 4the several passages 61 about the upper portion of the agitator.

The lint tlter and/or detergent bowl '94 is mounted on the agitator to intercept the water discharging through the passages 61. Bowl 94 is preferably an annular structure, having its inner Wall 95 sized to t over the upper end of the tubular agitator post 30, and its outer wall 96 sufhciently tall to intercept water issuing from the ports 61. Wall 96 is desirably inwardly curved to prevent splashing of water over the rim thereof during the oscillation of the agitator; accordingly, it is desirable to form the bowl in two parts as shown. The bottom Wall 98 may be segmented so as to provide a plurality of arcuate openings having tlter screen inserts 160 and a plurality of radial walls 191 delineating therebetween. It will be observed that the bowl 94 is above the full load water line of the operative washer. If desired, a shock-absorbing sleeve (not shown) of relatively soft rubber may be interposed between the bowl and the agitator. The bowl may be secured against rotation relative thereto by interiitting keyways and keys, or other conventional expedient.

At the commencement of the washing operation, detergent within the bowl is washed into the basket; during the washing operation and the ultimate rinsing operation, the pumping mechanism.will effect a continuous movement of water into the bowl, from which it returns to the basket through the screened bottom. Lint and the like is continuously extracted from the wash water and retained in the bowl.

Removal of the agitator from its shaft 30 is simply a matter of unscrewing the cap 5S, and withdrawing the agitator, the free iit of the casing member 82 0n the grommet 52 making such removal an easy operation. Following removal of the agitator, the removal 0f the pump for inspection or repair becomes a matter of removing the screws which secure it to the agitator and the disassembly of the pump parts which were held by the screws.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended -to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention: v

l. In a washing machine having a basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in a body of water, an upstanding agitator having a tubular post structure adapted to telescope over an upstanding central member within said basket and means for oscillating said agitator relative to said central member, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said liquid within said basket, comprising:

an outer tubular pump casing arranged to be secured to said agitator within the tubular post structure thereof,

an inner tubular pump casing adapted to be secured about said upstanding central member,

said outer casing being rotatably mounted on said inner casing and being arranged to provide therewith a pump chamber defined by top and bottom annular walls,

a blade member affixed to said Outer pump casing and extending radially across said pump'chamber for the full axial length thereof,

a water inlet valve disposed in said annular bottom wall at each side of said blade member,

a water outlet valve disposed in said annular top wall at each side of said blade member,

a blade member alixed to said inner pump casing and extending radially across said pump cavity for substantially the full axial length thereof,

means carried by said ktubular post structure for securing said inner pump casing thereto with the respective blade members in predetermined angular spaced relation,

whereby on oscillation of the respective casing members relative to each other the relative displacement of the blade members creates alternating suction and discharge compartments in said pump chamber,

and means affording inflow and outiiow passages communicating between said tubular agitator post structure and said basket to accommodate passage of water into and out of the respective compartments of said pump chamber.

2. The pumping apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the securing means for said inner pump casing permits rotation of said casing about said tubular structure in the circumstance of the application of abnormal rotative effort to said inner pump casing.

3. In a washing machine having a basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in a body of water, an upstanding agitator having a tubular post structure adapted to telescope over an upstanding central member within said basket and means for oscillating said agitator relative to said central member, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said water within said basket, comprising:

an outer tubular pump casing arranged to be secured to said agitator within the tubular post structure thereof,

an inner tubular pump casing,

said outer casing being mounted for rotation relative to said inner casing and providing therewith a pump chamber having top and bottom annular walls,

a waler inlet valve disposed in said annular bottom a waltler outlet valve disposed in said annular top means for immobilizing said inner casing relative to said outer casing,

means interposed between said innerrand outer casings to create alternating suction and discharge pumping compartments upon oscillation of said outer casing,

and means affording inliow and outflow passages communicating between said tubular agitator post strucenaasea ture and said basket to accommodate passage of water through said pumping compartments.

4. ln a washing machine having a basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in aV body of Water, an upstanding agitator having a tubular post structure adapted to telescope over an upstanding central member within said basket and means for oscillating said agitator relative to said central member, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said water Within said basket, comprising:

' an outer tubular pump casing arranged to be secured to said agitator within the tubular post structure thereof,

an inner tubular pump casing,

said outer casing being mounted for rotation relative to said inner casing and providing therewith a pump chamber having upper and lower annular walls,

a water inlet valve disposed in said annular lower wall,

a water outlet valve disposed in said annular upper wall,

means adapted to besecured to the bottom of said basket for holding said inner pump casing stationary with respect thereto whereby oscillation of said agitator within said basket effects oscillation of said outer pump casing relative to said inner casing,

pumping elements respectively on said outer and inner pump casings to create alternating suction and discharge compartments,

and means affording inlow and outflow passages communicating between said basket and said suction and discharge compartments to accommodate passage of water through said compartments.

5. In a Washing machine having a generally cylindrical basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in a body of liquid, au agitator therein, and means to oscillate said agitator relative to said basket about a vertical axis coaxial therewith, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said uid within said basket, comprising:

a iirst cylindrical pump casing member extending upwardly within said basket coaxially therewith,

means interposed between said pump casing member and said basket to normally prevent rotation of said casing member relative to said basket while permitting such rotation upon imposition of a substantial rotational eifort on said casing member,

a second cylindrical pump casing member disposed about said iirst pump casing member for rotation relative thereto, said lirst and second casing membersdeiining therebetween an annular pumping chamber of substantial radial dimension,

means for securing said second pump casing member to said agitator for oscillation therewith,

blade members extending across said pumping chamber from each of said first and second casing members, said blade members forming alternating suction and discharge compartments in said pump casing during oscillation of said second casing member,

. inlet check valve means for admitting liquid from said basket to the respective suction compartments,

outlet check valve means for discharging liquid from the respective discharge compartments,

and passage means for conducting the discharging liquid `outwardly into said basket from above the liquid level therein.

6. In a Washing machine having a generally cylindrical basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in a body of liquid, an agitator therein, and means to oscillate said agitator relative to said basket about a vertical axis coaxial therewith, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said liquid within said basket, comprising:

a rst cylindrical pump casing member extending upwardly within said basket coaxially therewith, said member having a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly from its inner wall surface,

means interposed between said pump casing member and said basket, said means comprising a cylindrical element having radially outwardly extending teeth engaging with said lirst-named teeth to prevent substantial rotation of said casing member relative to said basket under usual conditions of operation of said pumping means,

a second cylindrical pump casing member disposed about saidrst pump casing member to define therewith an annular pump chamber of substantial radial dimension,

inlet check valve means at the base of said pump chamber,

outlet check valve means at the top of said pump chamber,

means for securing said second pump casing member within said agitator for oscillation therewith,

pumping mechanism including lirst and second radially extending blades within said chamber to eiect llow of liquid therethrough during said oscillation,

said agitator having means affording ilow of liquid from said basket to said inlet check valve means and having means affording flow of liquid from said outlet check valve means into said basket,

said last-named means including passage means discharging into said basket substantially above the level of t e liquid therein.

7. The pumping apparatus according to claim 6, in which the interengaging pluralities of teeth are arranged to permit relative rotation of said first pump casing member and said cylindrical element in the circumstance of conflict between said first and second blades of said pumping mechanism.

8. ln a washing machine having a generally cylindrical basket to receive articles to be washed and rinsed in a body of liquid, an agitator therein, and means to oscillate said agitator relative to said basket about a vertical axis coaxial therewith, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said liquid within said basket, comprising:

a iirst cylindrical pump casing member extending upwardly within said basket coaxially therewith,

means interposed between said pump casing member and said basket to prevent substantial rotation of said casing member relative to said basket while permitting axial removal therefrom,

a second cylindrical pump casing member disposed about said lirst pump casing member to define therewith a hollow pump chamber,

inlet check valve means at the base of said pump chamber,

outlet check valve means at the top of said pump chamber,

means for securing said second pump casing member to said agitator for oscillation therewith,

pumping mechanism within said chamber to eiect flow of liquid therethrough during said oscillation,

said agitator having means allordug llow of liquid from said basket tosaidinlet check valve means and having means affording flow of liquid from said outlet check valve means into said basket,

said last-named means including passage means discharging said liquid substantially above the level of the liquid in said basket,

and means for ntercepting said discharging liquid and filtering the same.

9. In a washing machine having a basket to receive articles to be Washed and rinsed, an upstanding agitator having a tubular post structure adapted to telescope over an upstanding central member within said basket, means for oscillating said agitator relative to said central member, and means for introducing Water into said basket over the top thereof, the improvement in means for filtering the Water in the basket, comprising:

an outer tubular pump casing arranged to be secured to said agitator within said tubular post structure thereof,

an inner tubular pump casing adapted to be secured about said upstanding central member,

said outer casing being rotatably mounted on said inner casing and being arranged to provide therewith a pump cavity defined by upper and lower annular walls,

a blade member aixed to said outer pump casing and extending radially across said cavity for the full axial length thereof,

a water inlet valve disposed in said annular lower wall at each side of said blade member,

a water outlet valve disposed in said annular upper Wall at each side of said blade member,

a blade member axed to said inner pump casing and extending radially across said pump cavity for substantially the full axial length thereof,

means carried by said tubular post structure for securing said inner casing thereto with the respective blade members in predetermined angular spaced relation,

whereby on oscillation of the respective casing members relative thereto the relative displacement of the blade members creates alternating suction and discharge chambers in said pump cavity.

means affording inflow and outow passages communicating between said tubular agitator post structure and said basket to accommodate passage of Water through said pump chambers,

a how-directing plate member secured to the bottom lower wall of said outer pump casing to provide an annular flow passage between said inow passages and said inlet valves,

passage means communicating between said outlet valves and the basket at a level substantially above the water level thereof,

and a Water ltration bowl disposed to intercept water issuing from said passage means,

l0. In a washing machine having a basket to receive articles to be Washed and rinsed in a body of water, an upstanding agitator having a tubular post structure adapted to telescope over an upstanding central member within said basket and means for oscillating said agitator relative to said central member, the improvement in pumping means for circulating said water within said basket, comprising:

means providing an outer tubular pump casing within the tubular post structure of said agitator for oscillation therewith, means providing an inner tubular pump casing disposed about said central member, said outer casing and inner casing cooperatively providing an annular pump chamber having upper and lower wall structures, a water inlet valve disposed in said lower Wall structure, a water outlet valve disposed in said upper wall structure, means interposed between the bottom of said basket and said inner pump casing to prevent relative movement therebetween whereby said outer pump casing may be caused to oscillate relative to said inner casing, pumping elements disposed intermediate said outer and inner pump casings to create alternating suction and discharge compartments during said relative oscillation of said casings, and means affording inilow and outow passages cornmunicating between said basket and said suction and discharge compartments to accommodate translation of water through said pumping means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3. IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A BASKET TO RECEIVE ARTICLES TO BE WASHED AND RINSED IN A BODY OF WATER, AN UPSTANDING AGITATOR HAVING A TUBULAR POST STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE OVER AN UPSTANDING CENTRAL MEMBER WITHIN SAID BASKET AND MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID AGITATOR RELATIVE TO SAID CENTRAL MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT IN PUMPING MEANS FOR CIRCULATING SAID WATER WITHIN SAID BASKET, COMPRISING: AN OUTER TUBULAR PUMP CASING ARRANGED TO BE SECURED TO SAID AGITATOR WITHIN THE TUBULAR POST STRUCTURE THEREOF, AN INNER TUBULAR PUMP CASING, SAID OUTER CASING BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID INNER CASING AND PROVIDING THEREWITH A PUMP CHAMBER HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM ANNULAR WALLS, A WATER INLET VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID ANNULAR BOTTOM WALL, A WATER OUTLET VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID ANNULAR TOP WALL, MEANS FOR IMMOBILIZING SAID INNER CASING RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER CASING, MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER CASINGS TO CREATE ALTERNATING SUCTION AND DISCHARGE PUMPING COMPARTMENTS UPON OSCILLATION OF SAID OUTER CASING, AND MEANS AFFORDING INFLOW AND OUTFLOW PASSAGES COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR AGITATOR POST STRUCTURE AND SAID BASKET TO ACCOMMODATE PASSAGE OF WATER THROUGH SAID PUMPING COMPARTMENTS. 